Can you deliver 90% of your software on time, within budget, and fully meet the user's real requirements? Would you like to? Best-selling author Steve McConnell provides a compelling argument for turning software success into an everyday habit by advancing the software profession itself—at the individual, organizational, and industry levels. Expanding on the contents of his previous book After the Gold Rush, the author dispels common myths of software development. If you are a programmer, software developer, engineer, or work in software development, you should READ THIS BOOK.Why do so many companies use outdated and ineffective software development practices? See page 103What is "cargo cult" software development, and who uses it? See page 23How large is the return on investment for better software practices? Can you prove it? See page 115How do you create career paths for software professionals? See page 143Which affects projects more--good personnel or good process? See page 135How much difference is there between the worst software companies and the best? See page xv